NFL Week Four: For Some Teams, the Writing Is on the Wall; Others Take a Peek Toward the Playoffs
October 5, 2009 by dwil
Chicago (3-1) 48 - Detroit (0-4) 24 . Matthew Stafford suffered a dislocated knee – briefly – that popped back into place. He will get an MRI Tuesday. Too bad, too, becaus for one half the Lions played just as well as did the Bears. And even after Johnny Knox took the second half kickoff back 102 yards Detroit had instilled a bit of fear in the Chicago defense. After Stafford went down, though, the game was done.
Cincinnati (3-1) 23 - Cleveland (0-4) 20 (OT). The Bengal jumped on the Browns early. When Cincinnati defensive tackle Robert Gaithers picked up a fumble and ran 75 yards for a TD to put the Bengals up 14-0, it looked like it was going to be a long day for Cleveland. But the Bengals let up just enough to allow the Browns to claw their way back into the game. After 20 points in a row, the Bengals were down 20-14 and in need of a touchdown. They needed a TD pass from Carson Palmer to Chad Ochocinco to tie the game and then almost the entire overtime to put away the Browns.
Though the let up was not a good look for Marvin Lewis’ team, at least he has something to scream about this week while secretly smiling all the while because his team is 3-1 and not 2-2. another good sign for the Bengals was that their defense could be depended upon to shut the Browns down when they needed it most. If the Bengals can get a ore consistent effort from its offense they are going to be dangerous. The Browns? Derek Anderson should start the remainder of the games this season.
Houston (2-2) 29 – Oakland (1-3) 6. The Raiders gained less than 200 yards for the third time this season. That stat says it all. The Raiders are awful. Oakland is so bad, in fact, that nothing about Houston could be gleaned from this game.
Indianapolis (4-0) 34 - Seattle (1-3) 17. Peyton Manning now has three good to great wide receivers and the game’s best tight end to work with each week. behind Peyton are not one but two very good running backs. That is a bad sign for the rest of the league. And it sure was for the Seahawks who could not muster enough offense to hang with Manning (31-41, 353 2 TDs) and company.
New York Giants (4-0) 27 - Kansas City (0-4) 16. The Giants went through the motions and still won in a cakewalk.
Washington 16 (2-2) – Tampa Bay -13 (0-4). At halftime Redskins QB Jason Campbell said he felt like he had Jim Zorn’s coaching career in his hands. At the moment Washington was down 10-0. The ‘Skins came back thanks to Campbell’s two TD passes and the Washington defense rose up and stuffed the Bucs offense led by rookie first-time starter, Josh Johnson. Zorn’s job is safe —— for now.
New England (3-1) 27 – Baltimore (3-1) 21. The Patriots offense is designed to put a high level of stress opposing defense – and it did just that to the Ravens. Unfortunately, after the game, rather than give respect to the Pats all Baltimore did was cry about the penalties given to Terrell Suggs for diving at Tom Brady’s knees and another Haloti Ngata smacking Brady in the head, nearly knocking off the QBs helmet. Ray Lewis led the post game crying (“He’s a main. He can be hit just like us.”). Lewis and Suggs failed to mention that the Pats were also flagged for roughing Ravens QB Joe Flacco when a Patriots defender inadvertently smacked the second-year player. New England’s defense held the high-scoring Ravens offense to 14 points through great secondary play and a steady dose of blitzes that harried Flacco most of the afternoon. It appears Bill Belichick’s overhaul of the defense on the fly in one offseason might just be the stuff of football genius. And for the first time all season Tom Brady looked like Tom Brady rather than a shaky QB coming off a serious knees injury. The Ravens need to work on their offensive line because it was apparent they don’t like to be blitzed as they appeared to be confused and on the verge of self-destructing much of the day.
Jacksonville (2-2) 37 – Tennessee (0-4) 17. David Garrard strafed the Titans defense with a 27-37, 323 and 3 TD day. Kerry Collins was horrible when the game mattered, throwing for most of his 284 yards after the game was in the Jags hands. However, Collins is by far not the only problem for Tennessee. The Titans defense has been porous so far this season, and Jacksonville lit the Titans up, gaining 442 yards. At this rate it will be a feat if Tennessee finishes the season 8-8. Upcoming games for the Titans are: Indy, at New England, Jacksonville, and at San Francisco. The combined records of these teams is 12-4.
Miami (1-3) 38 – Buffalo (1-3) 10. Ouch. The Bills are bad. The offensive line is too young to be effective right now and the defense is committing too many mental errors to win games. Trent Edwards is a serviceable Q if he has a good line; he is brutal now and is squandering the talents Bills skill players. As lng as the dolphins run the Wildcat effectively, enough pressure is removed from the back of Chad Henne to allow the young QB to play winning football.
New Orleans (4-0) 24 – New York Jets (3-1) 10. The Saints defense heard all week about how great the Jets defense was. Well the New Orleans defense hurried, hit, roughed up, and made Jets QB Mark Sanchez (14-27, 138, 3 INTs) look like the rookie he is. The only good thing for the Jets is that they have a fairly easy schedule with no long stretch of tough games. It’s easy enough for the Jets to win at least 11 games and hide Sanchez. The Saints, on the other hand, look like the real deal and are, at the moment, the best team in the NFL.
San Francisco (3-1) 35 – St. Louis (0-4) 0. The Rams are the worst team in the league, period. The Niners have a defense built in the image of their head coach, linebacking great, Mike Singletary. However, it’s the offense that will turn Singletary’s hair gray as the season progresses. They are a below-average rushing offense and the line will struggle to keep Shaun Hill upright when they face tougher defenses.
Denver (4-0) 17 – Dallas (2-2) 10. Despite a two interception day for Tony Romo, the Cowboys were inside the Broncos five-yard line and had an opportunity to tie the score in the game’s last few seconds. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett dialed up consecutive passes challenging one of the game two or three-best corner backs, Champ Bailey. Bailey won both battles and Dallas lost the game. Remember the meeting Garrett had with Romo, Jason Whitten, Terrell Owens, and other Dallas wideouts? the players were disgruntled over Garrett’s play calling?
Let the grumbling begin.
Pittsburgh (2-2) 38 San Diego (2-2) 28. Rashard Mendenhall rushed 29 times for 165 yards and 2 TDs, Ben Roethlisberger was 26-33 for 333 yards and 2 TDs. It was the first game in quite some time that the Steelers offensive line was able to open holes for a running back and allow a balanced attack. That is a bad sign for the rest of the NFL. If Pittsburgh can produce a 100-yard rusher most weeks, they will win 12 games this season and make a deep playoff run. San Diego is beat up on defense and the Chargers offense is still spotty. Norv Turner has quite a bit of work to to with his San Diego team.
Monday Night
Green Bay (2-1) at Minnesota (3-0). Brett Favre finally gets his wish to play in the NFC North ———- and against his former team, the Green Bay Packers. which team wins, the big-play offense of the Packers led by Aaron Rodgers or the Vikings ground attack led by Adrian Peterson? Which defense will come up big?
This game should be a good one.
Watching the Titans play is brutal around here. To me, it’s more of the defense than offense causing concern. I don’t think the events surrounding Steve McNair’s demise helps, either…
Indy is a team to watch this year. They easily take the division barring any major injuries…
What offense the Bears received with Cutler got stymied by the lack of Urlacher on defense (go figure!)…
Who would’ve thought the Broncs would be at this point. Unless SD can get on track, it’s Denver’s division to lose…
In this order: St. Louis, Kansas City, Cleveland, Oakland, Buffalo…yuck!!!
The Vikes should take MNF game against Pack…
I think I would have to agree that the Saints are the best team in the NFL right now. I’ve been saying all along that if the Saints establish a good, consistent defense, they can win it all. It seems as if the players are buying into Greg Williams’ defensive scheme.
I’d probably put the G-Men @ no. 2 and the Colts 3rd.
I don’t know what it is but I really like this 49ers team. Patrick Willis is the best LB in the game right now.
I don’t know which team is worst, the Rams, Chiefs.
I cannot believe the Broncos have a defense. Not bad, even if more of it was on Jason Garrett for being dumb enough to throw at Champ Bailey. Next week against the Pats is the real test — we’ll see if McDaniels is a chip off Belichick or a chump.
GrandNubian – it’s the Chiefs. The Rams have a lack of offensive talent right now. There’s no public grumbling about Steve Spagnuolo. It’s a project and it will take time. The Chiefs are just putrid. Todd Haley is not looking good right now. I mean, if you’re losing to the Raiders, of all teams….
The ‘Skins woke up in time to win the game last night. Jason Campbell said he felt at halftime as if he had Jim Zorn’s job in his hands. He was correct. Zorn should have hired someone else to coach the offense. The ‘Skins shouldn’t have had to struggle against the Bucs or Rams, and lose to the Lions. Part of it is the team’s execution, but a great deal is Zorn’s play calling early. I’ve watched the past two games for this team, and it seems that the play calling loosens up in the second half. Perhaps because Zorn finally relents because of fear of losing his job?
Denver is 4-0? The Cowboys were in control and Kyle Orton led the Broncos back. Even a new palace won’t bring in fans if the team keeps playing like this through the season.
The 49ers are this year’s surprise team. Granted, they benefit from playing in the weakest division in football. They didn’t need Frank Gore to beat down a weak St. Louis team, but with the Falcons, Texans, Colts, and Titans all coming up, he’ll be needed to help control the clock and limit possessions. Singletary is looking like a bargain at 4 years, 10 million.
The Patriots know how to beat the Ravens. The Ravens haven’t figured out that their style of defensive play doesn’t intimidate the Patriots. The Ravens have a better offense, but it’s still a work in progress.
The Steelers tried to give that game away last night! Doesn’t look like all of the problems are solved, but if Mendenhall does what he’s supposed to do in practice, he should definitely get more playing time. The offense played vintage Steelers football when it came to running the ball last night.
I’ve got the G-Men as the best. I don’t think New Orleans could win against a real physical team, particularly if they had to play them outdoors. Plus, playing against a rookie QB and getting 3 interceptions is a whole lot different than playing a seasoned QB and getting that many, unless we’re talking Delhomme or Romo, of course.
I give the edge as worst team to the St. Louis Rams. The average score for a Rams game is 27-6. The Chiefs average is 28-16. Both teams have some talent on both sides of the ball. Neither one has been able to put it together to win a game. It’s a bad time for Missouri football fans.
@S2N
“The Chiefs are just putrid. Todd Haley is not looking good right now. ”
You’re probably right. I cannot even watch a game with either team.
Jason Garrett is an Offensive Coordinator in training and on yesterday he, again, proved why. There was a stat mentioned by Aikman where they threw at Bailey numerous times (he gave an exact number but I don’t remember it) and the result was I think 1 completed pass (if i’m not mistaken) and a INT. If you study the last pass, Champ “baited” the QB to throw the ball because he gave the WR the inside. Romo took the bait but he could he not know the closing speed Champ Bailey has? If he studies film, he should know this, right?
Should be:
“Romo took the bait but how could he not know the closing speed Champ Bailey has?”
S2N, GN-
I have 1st quarter power rankings coming out this week and I ve y’all a little hint as to which team is worse —— and it’s the Rams. Why? Because the Chiefs somehow score points even if the game is decided when they do it. The Rams have difficulty scoring even then.
Romo is overrated. First and foremost, he holds the ball too damn long. Now, we don’t know if his receivers are truly covered or if they aren’t but he takes WAY too many coverage sacks when his experience or his legs should get him to where he can unload the football. The INT he threw to Champ Bailey? Only Champ Bailey had a legit chance to make a play on the football. Horrible throw.
The media is trying SO hard to get Jason Garrett a head coaching gig it’s not even funny.
Tennessee’s not lookin’ too good. Yeesh. Give Vince Young a chance. It’s a win-win for the Titans: if he’s bad, the season will be his fault. If he’s good, the coach looks like a genius. I hope Vince is ready. The next starts he gets will likely be his last chance to earn a starting job in Tennessee.
I live in the DC Metro area, though not a ‘Skins fan, but I’m SO glad these guys won last week. Our sports radio network (owned by ‘Skins owner Dan Snyder) was about to jump off the top of FedEx Field after the loss to the Lions.
“Now, we don’t know if his receivers are truly covered ”
They are. They can’t get open. Every throw is into tight coverage. Double Witten and press Williams/Crayton/Austin = no one to throw to. getting rid of TO definitely helped the offense. Even with a beast ass running game, the play action isn’t working because the WRs can’t get open. Ugh. At least my ‘Canes are giving me something to cheer about.
Diallo,
I think the Cowboys’ problems are coming to the surface even more this year because that O-line is aging. And the holes that Emmitt Smith’s line used to open up? Just shows how truly dominant that line was. The Cowboys’ defense is fully adequate and giving up 17 points in that type of game should’ve still yielded a win.
And I’m SO happy for the Hurricanes. I’m a UVa fan, but since Randy Shannon’s at Miami, I’ll root for him to continue to do well. I bet a guy $100 that Miami would come out of the first four games at 2-2 or better. I collected my ducats awhile back, but 3-1? I didn’t see that coming. I figured that Miami would’ve lost to Oklahoma. That loss to Virginia Tech was costly, but if you guys win out? Who knows. Got to be consistent every week. Consistenly good.
Collins is regressing to the point before where VY ended taking the starting gig. What’s crazy is that the Titans have some of the best receivers THEY HAVE EVER HAD. So yeah, put VY in because it can’t hurt at this point.
But as someone mentioned the real culprit is the D and specifically the secondary. Any team in the league can pass on the Titans right now. It is a brutal viewing experience.
In the meantime, I’m all about the start of the NBA season and watching the ‘Canes finish strong.
Yeah Diallo the WRs aren’t open but thats on Romo ass. Shit he is mobile use them got damn legs.
That excuse doesn’t fly for black QBs who can run so it shouldn’t fly for a white one.
Romo is a freaking turnover machine and the media here is Dallas makes every excuse possible. I said from the start that TO was a scapegoat and Jerry was only concerned with saving money when he cut TO.
CDF as far as the Titans yes the defense sucks. But the Kerry Collins is killing drives because his lack of mobility and willing to throw the ball away instead of standing in the pocket to take the hit to complete a pass.
Also with Vince in it will extend drives because he will actually improve the run game. CJ and Lendale white will have more running lanes with Vince.
The funny thing is the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that Fisher and the ownership would prefer to lose. That would give them reason to blow the team up and not resign Lendale, Bullock, Vanderbosch (sp?). And they could cut Vince and Kerry.
Think about this Lendale isn’t even getting touches………..must be some incentives in his contract. The Cowboys and that old wrinkled pimp Jerry Jones pulled the same mess with Julius Jones last season.
It just amazes me how QBs like Collins and Cassel not getting any heat from the media to get benched. I understand that Cassel team sucks……..but the dude contract is fat.
No black QB could get away without being attacked by fans and media starting out 0-4.
They would have burned Vince Young at the stack if he started 0-4.
Last I hate the colts and can’t stand Peyton. But in saying that I have to give his GM and owners some props. They make sure that boy is surrounded by weapons every year.
That dude has a 1st rounds pick at RB (qty 2), WR (qty 2) and TE (qty 1).
I mean really how can he not set records………..every time he loses a weapon they give him another one.
AWB says
“In the meantime, I’m all about the start of the NBA season and watching the ‘Canes finish strong.”
Couldn’t agree more man.
And might I add………… Patrick and I called the titans being (0- and a lot ) to start the season because the OL wasn’t going to block like they did last season and that Haynesworth was gone.
But like I told Dwil yesterday………….since Fisher wants to be ignorant and not play Vince………..these fools may end up 0-16.
But even if Vince plays they did him wrong…………lets say they put him in vs NE………now he has to play the magical negro like Obama and clean up kerry, Fisher and the GMs mess.
Against even harder competition.
Niners have a below average running game? Frank Gore is below average now? They may have had a below average running game the past two weeks, but the last time Gore was healthy he ran for 200+ yards. Coffee’s not ready to start we’ve seen, but he’s a fine backup. If they are below average, then there is a pretty above average standard for “average”.
Origin,
I’ve never seen a black guy at QB take that much free agent money, come out of the box like the dude in KC has and not catch NATIONAL heat. Cassell makes a SHIT-LOAD of money, plays like duck butter and you don’t see the shitty stories on the blogs about him, etc.
Is it just me or does it seem like Collins is getting a major pass in the media on the Titans’ troubles this year?
Collin’s ain’t getting a pass in the ‘Ville. My boy says those cats are TRIPPIN’
S2N, GN-
I have 1st quarter power rankings coming out this week and I ve y’all a little hint as to which team is worse —— and it’s the Rams. Why? Because the Chiefs somehow score points even if the game is decided when they do it. The Rams have difficulty scoring even then.
David-
I said the same thing until I was corrected by a West Coast columnist I talked with yesterday who pointed out that other than the couple of long runs Gore broke, he was averaging about 1.5 per carry. So, outside of missed tackles on one run and a bad angle taken on the other long tun, the Niners aren’t doing much w/ the run.
“plays like duck butter ”
That shit is funny. Gotta use that one.
Origin, that’s fair. But as you saw on that 4th down play, he did scramble and keep the play alive, hitting Hurd in the process. I think the coaches are turning him into a robot, wanting him to be conservative. Romo is what he is. He’s never gonna throw for 30 TDs and 10 INTs. He’s ALWAYS gonna throw picks. I think I’d rather have the gunslinger, cause the past two games have me borderline apathetic.
D – I understand that. The Rams can’t even see the end zone in garbage time. But personally, I will go with the Chiefs, and it isn’t just AFC West rival animosity. I think the Chiefs are worse off because there is actual offensive talent on that team. I actually saw it with Tyler Thigpen and crew toward the end of the Herm era. That end had to happen — but I don’t think the squad truly hit rock bottom. They still have further to scrape and I expect them to get worse, and Haley’s firing of Chan Gailey, mediocre though he may be (there’s a reason many of us joke about the Chan Gailey Equilibrium when he’s a head coach in college or the pros), so close to the season was a bad, bad sign.
Todd Haley is living out what we Broncos fans had expected from Josh McDaniels. It’s really shocking.
The Rams can only go up. There’s actual effort there. Sometimes I can’t tell with the Chiefs, even when they score.
True Phil I need to add that busta ass Jake Del to the list as well.
Jake, Kerry Collins and Cassel…………….get the white boy pass from the media.
But they get the “Gas Face” from me.
Diallo Romo ran………..which was about time………..he needs to use his legs just like Mcnabb did when he had crappy WRs for years and years.
Anyway thank goodness the NBA is back.
Man that league pass is the best you really get your moneys worth.
I only saw the highlights of the Ravens-Pats game from yesterday but I’ll side with the Ravens’ D on the criticism of the refs. I’ll never call any NFL soft but seeing Tom Terrific jump around like a punk after barely being touched should have been called out. The fact the flag was only dropped after he squawked was bogus. As much as I dislike Wilbon, I have to agree with him that the NFL protects certain QB’s and if you’re going to make calls like that for the glamour boys then the lesser lights should get the same consideration.
Damn, that was a sweet run and catch by B. Marshall yesterday. Seeing BDawk play like he did yesterday I think McNabb may have a long day in December when the Broncos come to Philly.
Much as I hate to say it I think the G-Men are the best team in the league right now. NO’s nice but that record is suspect with wins over 2 rookie QB’s (Sanchez & Stafford), a McNabb-less Eagles, and an offensively impotent Bills team. The D is playing levels better but the Giants seem to be the tougher team with more depth on both sides of the ball.
Gawd, let me go wash my hands for typing that crap.
True on the QBs Harvey. That may be my biggest beef with the NFL (on the field that is).
Thats why I don’t like when folks get on the NBA for superstar calls. Then in the same breath give the NFL a free pass, even though there have been superstar calls for the golden boy QBs for freaking years.
Oh and the giants or vikings are the best in the NFL right now.
One more reason that the Rams might be going farther down the drain:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/rams/2009-10-06-rush-limbaugh-rams_N.htm
kos-
…not even going to open the link – i know, i know.